Combination vent for gas ranges



Dec. 14, 1943. J. F. HENNESSY COMBINATION VENT FOR GAS RANGES Filled Nov. 2, 1940 41 M 40 HZ J1 ll! llll lllflll ll flllfllllfll ll II Patented Dec. 14, 1943 COIHBINATION VENT FOR GAS RANGES John F. Hennessy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Geo.

.\ D. Roper Corporation,

ration of Illinois Rockford, 111., a corpo- Application November 2, 1940, Serial No. 363,984 15 Claims. (01. 126-299) This invention relates to a combination vent for gas ranges, the function of which is to cause the circulation of cool air upwardly behind the range whenever either or both of the ovens are in operation, whereby to avoid the danger of scorching the wall.

The principal object of my invention is to provide in combination with the oven flue and the deflector therefor means whereby a system of passages communicating with the space behind the range is provided and a combination stack effect and ejector effect is obtained to exhaust hot air from behind the range by entrainment with the hot gases discharged from the flue through the deflector, a two-fold benefit being gained because the hot gases are lowered in temperature appreciably and rendered, less objectionable in every way by this mixture with-the air, while cool air from the room is caused to circulate upwardly in the space behind the range as the hot air is continuously exhausted from that space, thus eliminating danger of scorching the wall.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a rear view of a gas range equipped with the combination vent of my invention, certain portions of the rear structure being broken away and shown in section for purposes of better illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the combination vent;

Fig. 3 is a vertical 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout these views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 5 designates a gas range, the back wall 6 of which has vents 1 and 8 in the upper rear ends of the oven compartments for discharge of products of combustion into ducts 9 and I0 communicating with the flue H at their upper ends as indicated at I2. The flue ll extends upwardly behind the back rail I3 and in some ranges discharges the products forwardly overthe cooking top, indicated at M, an ,omamental grill or flue deflector sectional detail on the line being provided in direct communication with the upper end of the flue H, constructed so as to direct the productsforwardly from the back rail l3 and away from the wall behind the range, indicated at IS in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the ducts 9 and III are open, as indicated at 16, far

enough below the level of the vents l and 8 so that the products of from either or both ovens are not apt to escape in that direction, but instead there will be an iniector action in which air from the space ll behind the range between the end panels I8 and I9 is entrained with the products flowing upwardly through the. flue ll, whereby to lower the temperature of the products which are ultimately discharged forwardly over the cooking top and make this exhaust less noticeable to the housewife. The end panels noticed, leave an appreciable clearance space 20 betweenthe lower ends of these panels and the floor 2| for the entrance of cool air to the space l1 behind the range. The openings indicated at 22 are in the back wall 23 of the burner box compartment B under the cooking top H. In the operation of the cooking top burners, one of which is indicated in dotted lines at b in Fig. 1 there is a certain amount of productsof combustion finding their way from the burner box compartment B through these openings into the space I1 behind the range, and while these products are not of a suflicient volume to give rise to any danger of scorching the wall l5 behind the range, it is nevertheless of advantage to have these products vented, and, as will soon appear. the combination vent of my invention serves that purpose along with its main purpose, namely, that of causing an induced circulation of air upwardly through the space I! whereby to avoid excessive heating and possible scorching of the Wall IS in any prolonged operation of either or both ovens. A sheet metal shield 24 covered on its front face with aluminum foil 25 to reflect radiant heat has been provided in the past covering the upper half portion approximately of the back of the range and supported by snap fasteners 26 on the downwardly bent rear flange 21 on the back rail l3. This shield has afforded a fairly satisfactory protection but it is nevertheless desirable to maintain a still lower temperature in this regionand thus avoid any likelihood of overheating. the wall l5 and damaging the finish thereon, regardless of how long the oven or ovens of the range may be used and at what temperatures. The combination vent 28 of my invention causes induced circulation of-air upwardly behind the range and between the back combustion discharging I8 and I9, it will be' 2 assopea' I downwardly from the plate 33 inside the jacket 29 and through the top wall 35 of the back rail l3 serve to make the assembly rigid with the back rail when wing nuts 35 threaded on the lower ends of the through-bolts against the under side of the wall 35 are tightened. Where a combination mirror and electric light fixture like that indicated at 31 in Fig. 1 is providedthe'supporting arms 38 thereof can be anchored in place by the same through-bolts 34, as indicated in Fig. 3,

otherwise ornamental plugs threaded on the upper ends of the through-bolts 34 and resting on top of the plate 33 are sui'ficient. The plate 33;

as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, supports the flue deflector 3| thereon between the arms-3|. The plate 33 also forms a convenient shelf on which may be supported the'timer indicated at 38 in Fig. 1 and the condiment shakers 40. A wire retaming-rail 4| entered in holes in the plate 33 surrounds the timer and condiment shaker set on three sides leaving the fronts thereof exposed. One end of the rail 4| is extended downwardlv through a hole in the lower plate 32 for the sake of better appearance and also to permit fastening the rail from below the plate 32.

The top wall 35 of the back rail l3 has a rectangular opening 43 defined by a downwardly projecting flange 44. There is an opening 45 in the lower plate 32 and an opening 46 in the upper plate 33. defined by downwardly bent flanges 45a and 46a, respectively, both of which openings are of the same size and shape as the opening 43 and register therewith for extension of thefiue riser 30 therethrough. The latter is of sheet metal tubular construction and generally rectangular section but substantially smaller in sectional dimensions than the openings", 45 and .46 whereby to provide ample clearances on all four sides for free air passage from the space H behind the range upwardly into and through the jacket 29 along the flue riser 30. The latter has a tele scoping fit on the upper end of the flue I I, as indicated at 41, and is secured thereto as by screws 48 to prevent downward displacement relative thereto. Outwardly struck hollow ribs 49 and 50 on the lower and upper ends of the flue riser serve to position the same centrally in the openings 43, 45 and 46 without materially obstructing the flow of air through these openings. A separate back plate 5| is provided on the jacket 29 and has an aluminum foil cover for the inner face thereof, as indicated at 52, to afford the same protection for the wall l5 as the plate 24 with its covering previously described. Screws 53 serve to fasten the plate 5| with its covering 52 to the back of the jacket 29. It should be apparent from this description that the open communication between the jacket 29 and the space l1 behind the range afforded through the openings 43 and 45 is enough to insure upfiow of air around the flue riser by stack effect alone, inasmuch as air heated by contact with any portion of the back wall 5 of the range will naturally rise in the space H between the back wall 5 and the shield 24 and such air by contact with the flue I l and riser 30 is naturally heated further and the upfiow thereof through the jacket 29 is accordingly accelerated. However, the stack effect is greatly augmented by an ejector effect obtained in accordance with my invention by having joint parallel discharge through the flue deflector 3| of hot gases from the flue riser 30 and hot air from the jacket 29, it being evident in Fig. 2 that the opening 45 communicates with the flue deflector 3i annularly relative to the upper end of the flue I riser 30 so that the hot gases discharged from the fiue riser with appreciable velocity serve to entrain therewith hot air from the upper end of the jacket 23.

While any suitable or preferred form of flue deflector may be provided, I prefer and have shown at 3i one constructed along the lines disclosed in the copending application of Harold H. Ring, Serial No. 363,971, filed November 2, 1940. In this reflector, the sheet metalframe 54 is of rectangular form and has two parallel' louvers i5 and 58 formed integral therewith-and bent at the same acute angle to the horizontal plane .of the frame 54 so that the products of combustion from the flue riser 30-n'1ixed with hot air from the jacket 29 upon coming in contact with the louver 55 are deflected forwardly relative to the back rail l3 and away from the wall IS. A third louver 51 parallel to the other two is provided to give better assurance of so directing the discharge. The part indicated at 58 is a sheet metal brace which is disposed transversely relative to the louvers at a mid-point of their length to keep the same in parallelism and proper spaced relation. The pins 59, one of which is provided on each end of the frame 54 of the flue deflector, are entered in ferrules 60 set in holes in the upper plate 33 to frictionally grip the pins and thus hold the flue deflector 3| in place securely and yet detachably.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations' I claim:

1. In a range having an oven and a flue for conducting products of combustion from the oven, the range comprising walls defining a cabinet adapted to be placed with the back thereof close to a wall in a room, and the back, top, and end walls of the range further defining with. the wall of the room a substantially enclosed space behind the range in which the aforesaid flue extends upwardly for conducting the products of combustion upwardly for discharge above the range into the room, the combination with said flue of a gas deflector communicating with the upper end of said flue to deflect products of combustion forwardly from the range and away from the wall of the room, and means communicating with said gas deflector in such relationship to the upper end of said flue that air from the top of the enclosed space behind the range is conducted to said gas deflector for entrainment with the products of combustion discharging through said deflector from said flue.

2. In a range having an oven and a flue for conducting products of combustion from the oven, the range comprising walls defining a cabinet adapted to be placed with the back thereof close to a wall in a room, and the back, top, and end walls of the range further defining with the wall of the room a substantially enclosed space combustion upwardly for discharge above the range into the room, the flue having an extension projecting through an opening provided in the top wall of the range, the combination with said flue and its extension of jacket means enclosing the flue extension above the top wall of the range and having communication at its lower end through the opening in the top wall circumierentially with respect to the outside of said flue extension with the upper end of the enclosed space behind the range, and a flue grill over the upper end of said ,flue extension and said jacket means for jointly discharging products of combustion from the flue extension mixed with air from said jacket means entrained with the products, saidflue grill discharging the mixture into the room.

3. A range as set forth in claim 1, includin a substantially vertical plate covering the upper portion of the back of the range to shield the wall of the room from the heat of the flue, said plate last-mentioned means communicating with the upper end of said enclosed space.

l. In a combination vent for a cooking range having an oven and a top wall provided with an opening for the discharge of hot airfrom behind the oven portion of the range, and a flue for conducting hot vapors from said oven, the combination with said top wall of a conduit extending upwardly from said top wall and communicating with said opening to facilitate discharge of hot air from the rear portion of the range by stack effect, and a flue extension for said oven flue extending upwardly into said hot air conduit to induce the exhausting of hot air from the rear portion of the range by entrainment of said air at the discharge end of the extension with hot vapors discharged from the oven through said extension. I w, s

5. A range comprising an oven and walls forming a cabinet enclosing said oven, a flue disposed vertically with respect to said oven at the rear thereof and connected with the upper portion of said oven, said oven being provided with an opening for discharging gases into said flue at an intermediate point thereof spaced appreciably from the lower end of the flue, said flue being provided with an opening in the lower portion thereof through which cooling air can flow into said flue and upwardly therein to mix with the hot gases entering said flue from said oven at the intermediate point, the hot oven gases flow.- ing into the flue at the intermediate point constituting draft inducing means to cause the cooling air to enter the lower portion of said flue and to flow upwardly therein, discharge means at the upper end of said flue for directing the discharge of the mixed air and gases from the flue forwardly with respect to said range from the rear wall of said cabinet, and means disposed upwardly with respect to the aforesaid intermediate point of the flue for conducting cooling air upwardly in heat transfer relation to the upper portion of said flue and discharging the air thus heated through the aforesaid discharge means by entrainment with the discharge of mixed air and gases from said flue.

6. A range as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cabinet enclosing the oven includes a burner box compartment under the cooking top, having openings at the rear thereof communicating with the last mentioned means for discharge of products of combustion from the burner box compartment into the cooling air that is conducted upwardly in heat transfer relation to the upper portion of the flue.

'7. A range as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cabinet includes a back splasher at the rear of the top wall of said cabinet, the flue extending upwardly within the back splasher and having an extension on the upper end thereof extending through an opening in the top of the back splasher, the discharge means having communication with the upper end of said extension, and the range including a jacket enclosing the flue extension above the back splasher and communicating at its lower end with the opening in the top of the back splasher and at its upper end with the discharge means, whereby the coolingair conducted upwardly in heat transfer relation with the upper portion of the flue is conducted through the opening in the top of the back splasher and upwardly through the jacket for discharge through thedischarge means.

8. In a combination vent for a cooking range having an oven and an upwardly extending flue for discharging hot vapors from said oven, the

, combination of an upwardly projecting back rail portion for the rear portion of the cooking top of the range, said back rail having a substantially horizontally extending top wall with an opening provided therein in register with the aforesaid flue, a flue extension for the aforesaid upwardly extendingflue projecting upwardly freely through said opening so as to allow hot air from ,behind the range, between the range and the adjacent wall of a room, to escape upwardly through the opening along the outside of said extension, and means providing a common outlet for the'joint discharge of vapors from said flue extension and hot air entrained therewith from said opening, whereby to induce circulation of air in the room upwardly behind the range to prevent overheating of the adjacent wall of the room.

9. In a combination vent for a cooking range having an oven and an upwardly extending flue for discharging hot vapors from said oven, the combination of an upwardly projecting back rail portion for the rear portion of the cooking top of the range, said back rail having a subtsantially horizontally extending top wall with an opening provided therein in register with the aforesaid flue, a flue extension for the aforesaid upwardly extending flue projecting upwardly freely through said opening so as to allow hot air from behind the range, between the range and the adjacent wall of a room, to escape upwardly through the opening along the outside of said extension, said flue extension projecting an appreciable distance above the top wall of the back rail. a jacket enclosing and spaced from that portion ofthe flue extension above the back rail for free passage upwardly therethrough of hot air from the aforesaid opening, and means providing a common outlet for the joint discharge of vapors from said flue extension and air from the jacket entrained with said vapors, whereby to induce circulation of air in the room upwardly behind the range to prevent overheating of the adjacent wall of the room.

10. In a range having an oven and a flue for conducting products of combustion from the oven, the range comprising walls' defining a cabinet adapted to be placed with the back thereof close to a wall in a room, and the back, top, and end walls of the range further defining with the wall of the room a substantially enclosed space hehind the range in which the aforesaid flue extends upwardly. for conducting the products of combustoin upwardly for discharge fromthe range, the combination with said flue of a gas discharger communicating with the upper end of said flue, and means communicating with said gas discharger in such relationship to the upper end of said flue that air from the upper portion of the enclosed space behind the range is conducted to said gas discharger for entrainment with the products of combustion discharging through said discharger from said flue.

11. A range as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cabinet enclosing the oven includes a burner box compartment under the cooking top, having openings at the rear thereof communicating with the last mentioned means for discharge of products of combustion from the burner box compartment into the cooling air that is conducted upwardly in heat transfer relation to the upper portion oftheflue.

12. A range as set forth in claim 10, including a substantially vertical plate covering the upper portion of the back of the range to shield the wall of the room from the heat of the flue, said plate being in rearwardly spaced relation to the flue and serving with the adjacent walls of the range to substantially completely enclose the flue, whereby a stack effect is produced in said enclosed space by contact of air with the flue to accelerate the upward flow of air through the last mentioned means communicating with the upper end of said enclosed space. 13; In a range having an oven and a flue for conducting products of combustion from the oven, the range comprising walls defining a cabinet adapted to-be placed with the back thereof close to a wall in a room, and the back, top, and "end walls of the range further defining with the wall of the room a substantially enclosed space behind the-range in which the aforesaid flue extends upwardly for conducting the products of combustion upwardly for discharge from the range, the flue having an extension projecting through an opening provided in the top wall of the range,

the combination with said flue and its extension of conduit means enclosing the flue extension above the top wall of the range and having communication at its lower end through the opening in the top wall circumferentially with respect to the outside of said flue extension with the upper end of the enclosed space behind the range, and a gas discharger over the upper end of said flue extension and said conduit means for jointly discharging products of combustion from the flue extension mixed with air from said conduit means entrained with the products.

14. A range comprising an oven and walls forming a cabinet enclosing said oven, a flue disposed vertically with respect to said oven at the rear thereof and connected with the upper portion of said oven, said oven being provided with an opening for discharging gases into said flue at an intermediate point thereof spaced appreciably from the lower end of the flue, said flue being provided with an opening in the lower portion.

the discharge of the mixed air and gases from said range, and means disposed upwardly with respect to the aforesaid intermediate point of the flue for conducting cooling air upwardly in heat transfer relation to the upper portion of said flue and discharging the air thus heated through the aforesaid discharge means by entrainment with the discharge of mixed air and gases from said flue.

15. A range as set'forth in claim 14, wherein the cabinet enclosing the oven includes'a burner box compartment under the cooking top, having openings at the rear thereof communicating with the last mentioned means for discharge of products of combustion from the burner box compartment into th cooling air that is conducted upwardly in heat transfer relation to the upper portion of the flue.

JOHN F. HENNESSY. 

